CNN: $153 million in Bill and Hillary Clinton speaking fees, documented

[Jarqui]

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/05/politics/hillary-clinton-bill-clinton-paid-speeches/index.html

Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, combined to earn more than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 until Hillary Clinton launched her presidential campaign last spring, a CNN analysis shows.

In total, the two gave 729 speeches from February 2001 until May, receiving an average payday of $210,795 for each address. The two also reported at least $7.7 million for at least 39 speeches to big banks, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic 2016 front-runner, collecting at least $1.8 million for at least eight speeches to big banks.
...
"What being part of the establishment is, is in the last quarter, having a super PAC that raised $15 million from Wall Street, that throughout one's life raised a whole lot of money from the drug companies and other special interests," Sanders said at Thursday's Democratic debate hosted by MSNBC.
...
"Time and time again, by innuendo, by insinuation, there is this attack that he is putting forth which really comes down to, you know, anybody who ever took donations or speaking fees from any interest group has to be bought. And I just absolutely reject that, senator, and I really don't think these kinds of attacks by insinuation are worthy of you. And enough is enough," Clinton said.

Breakdown of speeches
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2704851/Total-Bill-and-Hillary-Clinton-Speech-Income.pdf

I'd say this supports much of what Bernie has been saying and it's a very prominent story on CNN.

[99th_Monkey]

1. But.. but .. a nurses' union has a pac that ran some ads supporting Bernie. So there

neener neener!

[Octafish]

103. So I think it's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/04/sanders-clinton-debate-transcript-annotating-what-they-say/

What's it called when someone says something that isn't true?

[99th_Monkey]

104. At least she calls it "artful". I'm sure she meant it as a complement.

[reformist2]

2. You don't take $100 million from the thugs on Wall Street and expect to skip away scot-free.

You may not think so, but if you've taken that much money from them, they *own* you. Like it or not, you're part of the family.

[FreakinDJ]

76. Just a 1%er to 1%er kick back

[metroins]

77. 5% was from the big banks

Not $100 million.

[hedda_foil]

86. Now, now. Let's not be hasty. Maybe they don't own you so much as *you AGREE* with them.

[Peregrine Took]

3. They are the hundred mililion dollar couple....

what do you expect?

[morningfog]

4. Good lord that is obscene.

[MelissaB]

9. Yes, it is!

It's an unreal amount of money to my upper middle class mind.

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. It is obscene.

[pnwmom]

24. Why is it obscene to donate speech money to a charitable foundation? n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. How much was donated and how much did they pocket?

That's what I would like to know.

[pnwmom]

57. I would, too, but CNN didn't think it was worth reporting for some reason. n/t

[Hassin Bin Sober]

60. The Clintons' net worth ($111 million dollars) means a good chunk went in their pockets

[morningfog]

45. The bankers did not donate that money to a charitable org.

[pnwmom]

58. Wrong. If you look at the Clinton Foundation website, you can see

that Goldman Sachs and others donated to the foundation.

[morningfog]

63. You didn't give a link don't have no idea if that is accurate.

Regardless, if a contribution is listed was if for the speech or something else?

How do the numbers match up? Total paid for speeches, total contribution to the foundation.

And did they actually donate to the foundation or did they just pay Hillary, who passed it through?

[pnwmom]

69. All you had to do was look at the Clinton Foundation site, but that was too hard for you.

They clearly list, on their speeches page, donations from Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions that were specifically given in exchange for speeches.

You made the flat statement that none of the speech money was given to a charitable org. The evidence that IS available shows that financial institutions did give directly to the Clinton Foundation. This report wouldn't show speech money that may have gone to the Clintons directly, but it does show that these companies did donate to the Foundation in exchange for speeches.

For some reason, CNN failed to distinguish between donations to the Foundation and personal fees in its reporting.

https://www.clintonfoundation.org/about/speeches

[wavesofeuphoria]

85. Duh. The "charity" was the Clinton Foundation!

[scscholar]

42. Because they have a message that we need to hear?

They have something to say.

[UglyGreed]

5. Like I have written

before, nice work if you can get it

[quantass]

6. And someone she is not being influenced by all this money!? Please.

[mhatrw]

7. "Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the plutocracy."

"We have the capability to make the world's first bionic candidate. We can make her better than he was before. Better...stronger...faster."

The 153 Million Dollar Candidate

[Ino]

8. Well, $2700 gets you a photo & handshake...

What do you get for $153 million?

[CoffeeCat]

26. For $153 million, you get ONE bought-and-paid for Pez dispenser politician

who refuses to reinstate Glass Steagall and tells you to, "Cut it out" after you tank the global economy into the shitter.

[FailureToCommunicate]

10. Was any of this for the Clinton's foundations, or all just to them personally?

[salib]

19. Read the article, lazy!

It was personal income.

[FailureToCommunicate]

59. I did read it and the short article said nothing about it.

I'll ignore the "lazy" comment, because you have a song lyric from Richard Farina as your sig line.
(One co-written with Joan Baez's older sister Pauline Marden)

[Not Sure]

11. What do you have to say to get paid that much?

I've paid quite a bit to see plays or concerts, but to hear someone speak? What could a speaker possibly have to say worth that much?

[Cassiopeia]

20. In any of those speeches? Absolutely nothing.

In the White House? That's pennies on the dollar.

[TIME TO PANIC]

41. It's a pay off for future favors. n/t

[tomm2thumbs]

12. it's called 'The Establishment' and she's one of them

Pay to play - it's all the rage these days

[Motown_Johnny]

13. When CNN says something bad about the Clintons, it is time to take notice.

Now it looks like this story has legs. She better come up with an answer for her transcripts pretty soon, it isn't going to blow over.

[elmac]

22. Ok, I am going to play devil's advocate

and give a possible reason for the big speaking fees. Maybe its the prestige of having a former Sec of State or a Clinton speaking at your event. These banksters spend that much for lunch, a few hundred thousand dollars is just a sneeze in their world.

I'm voting for Bernie in the MI Primary, as I planned to do the day he declared his run. I will support and vote for HRC if she takes the primary.

[AzDar]

14. Watch Donny Doosh Wall St. Huckster, melt DOWN at the thought of Bernie becoming President...

(Tantrum begins @ around 10:36)

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. so what? if you were a hot commodity

What would you do? Say no thank you? I am a dem undecided..and I say so what!

[retrowire]

18. But what if you were accepting money

from those who were screwing over the very people you were elected to serve?

[PoliticAverse]

47. As Clinton said herself "I represented Wall Street". n/t

[zeemike]

27. There is a reason you are a hot commodity

It means you have something to give that is worth more than they pay you for.
In the case of politicians it is power and influence.
And so you say so what to the sale of power and influence.

[TIME TO PANIC]

38. Bingo.

[Iggy Knorr]

62. Please dont vote

for the sake of us all.

[jalan48]

16. What exactly would the Clintons say to Goldman Sachs in private?

"Here's some tips on how to rebuild the economy? Here's some ideas for eradicating poverty? Here are some more ideas on how your practices can help the environment?" Oh, and, "We want all this information in these speeches kept secret because if it gets out the average person would get upset".

Yeah, that's it.

[PoliticAverse]

51. She likely she told them what they wanted to hear.

There's big bucks in telling people what they want to hear.

And if you did that you wouldn't want what you tell people to be
released, as it would make it rather difficult to tell different groups
different things.

[artislife]

89. I am troubled by your argument

Because while that may be what people want, those delivering it should be scrutinized. It isn't as if she is trying to push a book on how Wall Street is safe again for the little investor, or big one at that. She was running on her political career and hoping to further it.

Our country should be more than how to make a buck. It should be about how we move everyone across that "bridge into the future" instead of a few and not worrying if the infrastructure hasn't been maintained to carry the load of 99% coming across it.

She has always been running for political gain. So her talks were to further her career along. We are saying we don't like the price it takes to be included in her vision.

[LibDemAlways]

21. It would be interesting to know how much of that

money went to charity and how much lined their pockets.

Hillary was on the defensive during the debate, claiming that many former political office holders also hit the speaking circuit. I checked out Jimmy Carter's speaking engagements and all I could find was that he rarely gives paid speeches and, when he does, he always donates the entire $50,000 fee to his foundation. He apparently wants to avoid even the hint of impropriety -- something that apparently doesn't much concern the Clintons.

[Sienna86]

23. And that's why I respect Jimmy Carter, among other reasons.

His personal integrity.

[Jarqui]

31. Never in a million years would Jimmy be mixed up in anything like this

Did anyone read about quid pro quo - arms deals approved by the state department with big donations to Jimmy's foundation?
http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html

Not a chance. Really nice, classy, beautiful foundation - that all Americans can be proud of.

Jimmy's been rock solid honest and decent since the day I became aware of him. A national treasure.

[chknltl]

28. Does anyone here want 'best democracy Big $$' can buy?

If in reference to speaking fees our current Speaker of the House Paul Ryan or Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said: “You will not find that I changed a view or a vote because of donations I received,” would you be ok with it? Would you be ok with any Republican elected politician saying those words? Is THIS the way you want our future as a democracy to go? Surely our Republican friends will be quick to remind us that if it is OK for Clinton then it must be OK for everyone!

[Hoyt]

29. Why leave out other groups they spoke to like American Camping Association, Canada 2020,

UCLA, US Green Building Council, Wprld Travel and Tourism Council, etc.

[Metric System]

33. Because they don't fit the narrative.

[frylock]

35. Because it's irrelevant.

Get back when camping fund managers nearly destroy the economy.

[AmBlue]

74. Bingo! nt

[artislife]

90. She is only morally ambiguous some of the time!

New slogan.

[cherokeeprogressive]

30. Would that I could make that much money with my mouth.

[Android3.14]

32. A McDonald's cook would have to work 7,000 years to make that kind of money

7,000 years.

[NurseJackie]

34. Good for them both!

They're in demand and certainly deserving!

[cantbeserious]

37. Your Opinion Only - Others See The World Differently

eom

[Beaverhausen]

43. They are two of the most admired people in the world

I know that hurts you. I'm sorry.

[cantbeserious]

48. Being Admired Is Not The Same As Being Right - As To My Feelings - Sticks And Stones ...

eom

[cantbeserious]

36. Damning - Case Closed - HRC - Patron Of Wall Street And The 1%

eom

[metroins]

78. 5% was from the big banks

7 million out of 153.

[cantbeserious]

83. Damning - Case Closed - HRC - Patron Of Wall Street And The 1%

eom

[Uncle Joe]

39. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Jarqui.

[Ino]

40. A Forbes article...

discussing how Bernanke can command high fees for a speech.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2014/05/25/ben-bernankes-post-fed-speaking-fees-send-a-scary-economic-message/2/#4246f1d75b6c

The list of Bernanke errors and obtuse utterings is long, this piece hasn’t scratched the surface, but the point here is that no investor or hedge fund manager of sound mind would pay enormous sums to learn about Bernanke’s thoughts on the economy. This wouldn’t happen simply because the former Fed head has long been bereft of insight into the economy.

So what drives Bernanke’s high speaking fees? This is the chilling part, though most readers probably knew this in advance. Bernanke is very much in demand not because he’s insightful, but because the Fed is all-too powerful, and he used to be Chairman of this powerful entity. If it’s not already obvious, the source of Bernanke’s new wealth is rather troublesome simply because it’s not rooted in talent; rather it’s a function of his pull, his ability to get presumably anyone with decision-making authority at the Fed on the phone.

Bernanke is selling access to investors interested to know how the Fed will distort the normal functioning of the markets. The Fed’s actions move markets, so it’s advantageous for investors to know what’s next.

So... what is Hillary selling with those high fees? She's undeniably powerful and connected. She was expected to run for President... what benefit would that offer her "investors"?

[Jarqui]

44. This is the benefit they offer her:

Hillary's campaign schedule JUST for the month of February below. She needs these rich folks to fund her campaign.

http://hillaryspeeches.com/scheduled-events/
February 5, 2016 Boston, Massachusetts Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 6, 2016 Rock Hill, South Carolina Women for Hillary Chelsea Clinton
February 10, 2016 Planco, Mexico City, Mexico Fundraiser José Villarreal
February 10, 2016 Mexico City, Mexico Fundraiser José Villarreal
February 11, 2016 Birmingham, Michigan Fundraiser Chelsea Clinton
February 11, 2016 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Democratic Debate (PBS) Hillary Clinton
February 12, 2016 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 12, 2016 St. Paul, Minnesota Humphrey-Mondale Dinner Hillary Clinton
February 12, 2016 Providence, Rhode Island Fundraiser Chelsea Clinton
February 12, 2016 Cincinnati, Ohio Fundraiser Bill Clinton
February 12, 2016 Newark, New Jersey Fundraiser Senator Cory Booker & Capricia Penavic Marshall
February 12, 2016 Grand Rapids, Michigan Fundraiser Bill Clinton
February 13, 2016 Atlanta, Georgia Fundraiser Bill Clinton
February 13, 2016 Munich, Germany Fundraiser Melanne Verveer
February 13, 2016 Denver, Colorado Democratic Party Hillary Clinton
February 15, 2016 Palm Beach, Florida Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 15, 2016 Miami, Florida Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 15, 2016 Boca Raton, Florida Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 16, 2016 New York City, New York Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 16, 2016 McLean, Virginia Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 17, 2016 Chicago, Illinois Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 17, 2016 Chicago, Illinois Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 17, 2016 New York City, New York Fundraiser Bill Clinton
February 17, 2016 Brooklyn, New York Fundraiser Bill Clinton
February 17, 2016 New York City, New York Fundraiser Bill Clinton
February 18, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 21, 2016 Atherton, California Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 21, 2016 Piedmont, California Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 21, 2016 Washington, DC Fundraiser John Podesta
February 22, 2016 Los Angeles, California Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 22, 2016 Charleston, South Carolina Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 22, 2016 Los Angeles, California Fundraiser Hillary Clinton
February 22, 2016 Washington, DC Fundraiser John Podesta
February 22, 2016 Washington, DC Fundraiser Ann O’Leary
February 23, 2016 London, England Fundraiser Chelsea Clinton
February 23, 2016 London, England Fundraiser Chelsea Clinton
February 23, 2016 Washington, DC Fundraiser Ann O’Leary
February 23, 2016 Washington, DC Fundraiser Jake Sullivan & Lona Valmoro
February 25, 2016 London, England Fundraiser Evan Bayh

what benefit would that offer her "investors"?

Not being so tough on the banks (ie no Glass-Steagall), going ahead with the TPP, cool it on going after the offshore stuff with taxes, let the big heath insurance companies keep their $1 trillion per year healthcare gouging of Americans, etc

If she's a good girl, they'll underwrite her 2020 campaign!!

[SoapBox]

52. Good gawd...

Stupefying.

[KelleyKramer]

71. Wow! ...

Talk about being all about the money.

That's an eye opener!

[Jarqui]

70. This repost also adds some perspective that sheds some light on it

1/2 of Hillary’s Speaking Fees in 2014 Came From Groups Also Lobbying Congress

http://time.com/3889577/hillary-clinton-paid-speeches-lobbyists-influence/


Fee____ Name 2014 Lobbying Spending
===================================================
$225,500 General Electric $20,085,000
$335,500 Biotechnology Industry Organization $10,186,000
$125,000 Qualcomm Inc $9,530,000
$225,500 Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn $4,284,916
$225,500 National Auto Dealers Assn $3,657,000
$325,000 Cisco Systems $3,450,000
$265,000 Advanced Medical Technology Association $3,392,000
$225,500 Ameriprise Financial $3,390,000
$125,000 Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals $3,008,000
$315,000 eBay Inc $2,544,325
$225,000 Xerox Corp $1,435,000
$225,500 Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries $1,380,000
$225,000 Premier Health Alliance $1,258,696
$225,500 Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers $1,083,180
$225,000 United Fresh Produce Assn $1,040,000
$451,000 Salesforce.Com $610,000
$225,500 National Council for Behavioral Health $600,356
$225,500 Corning Inc $600,000
$280,000 Deutsche Bank AG $600,000
$100,000 California Medical Association $350,000
======================================================
$4,575,000 Clinton Fees from firms spending $72,484,473 on lobbying
.

[LittleBlue]

46. Disgusting that a public servant could become so wealthy

Never invented a thing, never started a company, and yet this family has amassed such wealth solely based on influence.

What promises did they make in exchange for the cash?

[cantbeserious]

49. ^^^ This ^^^

eom

[coyote]

82. Exactly this, you don't get 153 million and not

Be expected to do some favors in return. It's disgusting.

[Ferd Berfel]

88. No influance pedaling here nothing to see.....move along

move along......

It's effluence pedaling? They're really shoveling the shit !



THis is what the Oligarchy is all about. They produce nothing, and create nothing. They just take.

[OhZone]

50. Good for them! :) n/t

[cali]

53. Greed, as Heilmann said. Unethical and shortsighted on

Hillary's part.

[OhZone]

65. Greed? Nope.

It's the American way. We live in a capitalist country. That's our system. Sorry, it is and it's going to stay that way. And there is nothing wrong with it. It's just a matter of rule of law and taxing people fairly, like the way Team Clinton raised taxes on the rich in the 90s and gave us a surplus. Hey, and you know, FDR was wealthy.

[Oilwellian]

105. Corruption? Yes.

And it will not stay this way for much longer. Most people are sick to fucking death of it.

[SoapBox]

54. But, but, but..."we're flat broke!"

THAT will remain burned in my brain forever.

[liberal_at_heart]

55. The best democracy money can buy(for the banks).

[Iggy Knorr]

56. amazing that nobody is defending this

or maybe not so amazing

[hedda_foil]

87. Someone did. See post 65 a little above yours and posted later. Incredible.

[Iggy Knorr]

97. We've been hillary-splained

translation, Bribery is kewl, Commies drool.

[hedda_foil]

100. ^^for sure^^

[George II]

61. News flash - NO ONE CARES!

[reformist2]

64. Democratic voters seem to care - they're slowly but surely abandoning the Clintons.

[PoliticAverse]

68. You seem concerned. n/t

[left-of-center2012]

66. She'll be the best President money can buy

[RiverLover]

67. My God, do they owe a lot of rich people a lot of rich favors.

That's astounding.

[moondust]

72. Did she not anticipate this could be a big problem

in any future political contest? Maybe confident she could talk her way out of it? Everybody else does it so no big deal, right?

Seems like another question of judgment.

[metroins]

79. What is the issue?

I work with big corporations, does that mean I would magically get legislation passed their way if I were president?

Only 5% came from the big banks.

[artislife]

91. She doesn't work for them, so she claims.

So when they come to ask her to speak, why would they? She isn't an expert in the field.


You may gave far more important information in your speech, but she delivers something else by giving a speech. She actually really isn't be paid to talk at that poing. No, they are paying for future speeches given outside the lecture hall.

[metroins]

92. They are really paying to have her name associated with them

It gives them more prestige.

[artislife]

93. They already have prestige, what else would they want?

Think it over.

What is most important? A seat at the table.

[metroins]

94. You think it over...

Ever been to a "national" convention at a company?

They pay rappers, politicians, sports stars; it gives larger credibility and an aura.

When you can get a former President & First Lady/everything else she has done to, to speak at your gathering. It shows "We are #1."

I can guarantee if a President/Former First Lady came to speak at a company I was doing business with, and I were invited, I would go to listen. It would be a sham speech about useless things, but you still go.

[artislife]

95. I have gone to all day workshops

And Laura Bush and Steve Forbes was there a long with Brian Tracey. Tracey gave the only informative speech. I like Laura, which is the first time I had ever really heard her speak and I booed Steve Forbes causing my republican net-workers to look at me in horror.

None of them, Tracey included, deserved more than 20,000. Steve Forbes was the biggest joke, at least Laura spoke about her authentic experience and wasn't trying to be anything but a story teller.

The conference was obviously aimed at the conservative business owner, me being a liberal one highlighted that I was the fluke in the audience.

But you see, there was an agenda to why they chose the speakers they did. And what was the agenda for Hillary. She isn't into mere storytelling just to entertain. She is driven. Not a bad trait, but she doesn't spend her time jetting around to kick back and just shoot the breeze.

Not her.

Why did Laura Bush? I get the feeling that she wanted to share coming into the white house from the view point as someone who was swept into it by her marriage. She may have been bored in Texas for all I know. Her story was almost completely devoid of meaning other than personal experience. She spouted no policies, no winks to how good people think or even a message between the lines.

I can say, my esteem of her elevated on that day. I still say she got a free pass from the press about her killing someone in a car accident. But there you go.

[reformist2]

80. It shows how little they care what we think of them.

Hillary figured that all she needed was the backing of Big Money and the cooperation from the corporate MSM,
and she would be halfway to the presidency.

She knows their fans-for-life will stand by her no matter what she says or does. Getting the nomination
will be a cinch, and then it's on to the general, where she's up against another bought-and-paid-for candidate.
Again, no need to worry about personal enrichment and corruption, since everybody does it...

The only thing she didn't count on is a strong challenge from someone who would call her out on it, and get
the people all stirred up about quaint words like "ethics" and "integrity". She didn't count on Bernie...

[Bernblu]

73. This is simply unbelievable! She is toast and she will take the entire Democratic Party down

with her. The Republicans attack ads will be running against her 24-7. They write themselves.

[bigwillq]

75. Bought and sold

That's the Clinton way.

[DanTex]

81. Looks like about 5% came from banks. So much for the "owned by Wall Street" meme.

[amborin]

84. such obscene greed and conflict of interest, at best

[Babel_17]

96. If we air our dirty laundry won't the Independents eventually find out?

Keep this under wraps till after Secretary Clinton is elected, then if we need to express disapproval of the Clintons earnings, or just call it water under the bridge, we'll have time to decide which to do.

If the Independents, who don't generally trust her already, get wind of this, it could cost us the swing states. It's not entirely unimaginable either that some of the youngest voters might be put off by this and stay home. Just putting the idea out there, not saying they'd actually go so far as to not go to the polls and vote for Clinton!

[Utopian Leftist]

98. Is Hillary cynical enough to believe

that the public has ANY doubt that virtually ALL American politicians have their snouts in the trough of big business donors' campaign contributions, lobbying efforts, etc.???

We all know that Congress is bought and sold. We all know this. But Hillary wants us to just take the pill and pretend that she knows something we don't? That all that money magically flows from the magically beneficent heart of the Corporatocracy???

[asuhornets]

99. SO.. Noone cares except Bernie supporters on DU...eom

[Octafish]

101. I know a teacher who deserves to make that kind of money.

She's taught all-freaking-day kindergarten for 35 years. People cry when they see her in the supermarket or run into her at the Y. They all say she's made all the difference in the world for them, for their kids...now their kids' kids.

What would a politician have to do to earn that kind of money, anyway?

[Blue_Tires]

102. A former president and first lady can demand big coin for their time and a public appearance?

Stop the presses!